TR2/3/3A Normal running temp for TR3 engine

[bluemiata90]

I'm in the process of possibly purchasing a 61 TR3. The owner states that the engine was just rebuilt and the radiator is new. He feels the car will drive the 3 hours to my house with no problems. I inquired into the engine temp. and he stated that it doesn't overheat and runs at about 250-260 degrees reading on the gauge. That sounds a little high to me, what is the normal/safe temp. to drive a Tr3 for several hours on a expressway. Of course the gauge could be incorrect.

 

[crj7driver]

That is very hot for a TR motor in my opinion, my TR6 runs around 190. My 6 would overheat in slow traffic when I first got it, flushed the system, installed a new radiator and secondary electric fan, and that kept it from over heating. The sender on my temp guage went bad once, but that caused it to read too low , not hot. I bought the 6 when I lived in chicago and in the lovely traffic that city has, the car would be about 3/4 towards the hot.

I would be leary about buying it w/o a british shop looking at it.

 

[TR4]

I would ask it he didn't mean 150-160. My TR4 runs at 165 at the sending unit when the weather is cool.

 

[martx-5]

My TR3's temp gauge only goes to 230 deg F. Find out what's going on here before driving for three hours. 250-260 is way too hot for ANY car. 180-190 would be about right for a TR3. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

 

[spineguru]

My 61 TR3 runs at 185 or so on a normal day. Now here in Austin, there are not many normal days, just HOT ones. A couple weekends ago I was driving when it was 95 degrees out and it was maybe running 200 or so. The gauge only goes to 230.

 

[wifegonnakillme]

My TR3 runs at 235 - or about as high as the needle goes...of course its calibration is off by 50 degrees and i need to replace it - if you are worried about it you can stick a thermometer in the coolant to verify or use one of the infrared thermometer jobs...
Cheers,
Kerry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF

 

[gsalt57tr3]

My TR3 runs right at 185 on normal days, 190 with an electric fan when its 104 in the summer.

sounds like it may need a new temp guage.

 

[jayhawk]

Mine reads ~182-`85 until the outside temp goes over 80 degrees then I have difficulty keeping it down under 200 in traffic. No elec fan yet but that's coming. I agree 250 is too hot.

 

[bluemiata90]

Thanks for all the replies. My guess is, he meant 150-160 degrees. I haven't been able to reach him today to ask, but considering the gauge only goes to 230, I'm assuming he had the number wrong. Thanks

 

[Russ Austin]

If he said 150 - 160 that's cold, I've owned 3 TR3's and I say 185 to 195 is what to expect on a normal day.

 

[JFS]

My TR3 normally runs at 185, in the ballpark of most of the other replies.